I am a 23-year-old man. Around two months ago, I visited Kingston on business. While I was there, I met a beautiful girl and spent the night with her.

I did not notice any symptoms afterwards.

But this week, I was trying to have sex with my girlfriend in Clarendon and could not get an erection. I have also had a slight pain in the penis and testicle.

So, Doctor, have I got VD?

A Well, difficulty in getting an erection is not a symptom of any kind of sexually transmitted infection (STI).

So, why were you unable to get an erection when you were with your girlfriend?

In your age group, the likeliest culprit is nerves, or to give it another name, anxiety. You see, if a guy is anxious or fretting, his adrenal glands release 'anxiety chemicals' into his bloodstream. What they do is to temporarily close down the tubes which carry blood to the penis. The result is that the man cannot get an erection.

I am engaging in some guesswork here, but I wonder if you were feeling guilty about having been unfaithful to your girlfriend? If so, that may well have added to your anxiety.

Now, let us turn to the question of venereal infection. The other symptoms you mention, which might be more relevant, are slight pain in the penis and in the testicle.

Certainly, pain in or near the testicle can be a feature of STIs. However, it is much more common for men who have caught a sexual infection to complain of two other things:

Pain in passing urine

Discharge of mucus-like material from the penis.

There are other possible symptoms of VD, but it doesn't sound like you have had any of them. Nevertheless, my advice to you would be to get a medical check-up.

My main reason for saying this is that you have had a casual one-night stand with a young woman in the Corporate Area. You didn't say if she was a 'professional'. If she was, that would increase the chances that she had an infection.

Finally I urge you not to try to have sex with your girlfriend, or anyone else, till the doc has given you the all-clear.

If you do have an infection, treatment will be quick and effective. However, you would need to try to ensure that the women you have recently been to bed with are also treated.

Q My fiancé sometimes wants to enter me from behind. I have never done this with any other guy.

Is it safe? Or could it harm my health?

A I presume you are talking about vaginal intercourse, with your fiancé behind you, not rectal sex.

Yes, intercourse from behind is perfectly normal and natural and I believe that in some countries it's almost as popular as face-to-face intercourse. Indeed, for some women, it is easier to get pregnant this way.

You can enjoy this position with your fiancé without any health worries.

Q Doc, when is the best time to try to conceive a baby?

A On 'ovulation day'. This is generally around 14 days before one's menses are due.

However, 'ovulation day' does vary quite a bit from woman to woman. To obtain a more precise date, you could buy yourself an ovulation kit from a pharmacy.

Q Is it possible to catch germs from money?

A Technically, yes. In practice, I do not believe I have ever seen a patient who had a scienti-fically proven infection from coins or notes.

However, at a time where there are so many influenza and other viruses going around the world, it does seem that it would be a good idea for people to avoid putting money near the mouth or nose.

In particular, I occasionally notice people who put bank notes between their lips! This cannot be a good idea.

Q Is it possible to catch VD through the mole in the top of the head?

A No, it is impossible for sexually transmitted germs, or indeed any other infection, to get in through the top of the head.

Q Last week, I let a boy penetrate me for no more than five seconds. This couldn't have been enough to make me pregnant, could it?

A Unfortunately, even a moment's penetration can cause pregnancy. But if the guy did not discharge, there must be a good chance you are not pregnant. However, you will just have to wait and see if your menses arrive. If they do not, please have a pregnancy test.

Q I have an 'occasional girlfriend' in Portland. I see her several times a year. Last week, I visited that part of the island and spent the night with her.

I was really surprised to find that inside her there was something sharp that pressed against the tip of my organ. It pained me.

I think it was some kind of hard thread or wire. Doc, is there something wrong with her?

A I don't think so. Sounds like this woman has been fitted with a coil, that is, an IUD (intrauterine device). These contraceptive devices have a thread which hangs down a little way into the vagina.

Sometimes, it can give a guy a ticklish feeling or a little jab at the end of the penis.

I get the distinct impression that your 'occasional girlfriend' may have other partners. Maybe you have too.

Anyway, I think it would be a good plan for you to see a doc soon and have a check-up, just in case you have picked up any infection from her or from any other partner you may have.

Q I am a woman who wants a baby badly. I tried with my ex-boyfriend, but it didn't happen. Now I have another guy who plans on letting us spend forever together.

Can you help me with advice about getting pregnant?

A If possible, you should undergo a check-up to make sure that your womb, tubes and ovaries are in working order.

The doc will want to know if your menses are regular. If not, she may give you some medication to regularise them.

She will also advise you as to the best position for maximising the chances of conception.

For most women, this means having sex flat on the back with a pillow under the bottom.

However, if the doc finds that you have a retroverted (tipped) womb, which is pretty common, I would advise you to consider having intercourse in a kneeling position, since that gives the sperms good access for a retroverted womb. Good luck.

Q If a woman takes the Pill, can this make her man sterile?

A No, that is quite impossible.

Email questions on any medical issue to Doc at saturdaylife@gleanerjm.com.